A thermal burn of the skin occurs as a result of direct exposure to flames, hot gases and metals, radiant energy, hot liquids, steam. It is conventionally divided into two types: limited and extensive.
With the latter, 10% of the skin and more are affected. Extremely severe burns occur, occupying a quarter of the surface of the body. If less than 10% of the skin is affected, death is extremely rare. The main cause of death in this injury is shock.
Thermal burn : symptoms
Intense pain is always observed in the affected area. Depending on the severity of skin damage, burns are of four degrees. With I, severe redness occurs. With II degree, bubbles form on the skin. Grade III is of two types: A and B. In the first case, the epidermis undergoes necrotic changes, and in the second, all layers of the skin are affected. With the fourth degree, deeply lying tissues die.
Not one of them passes without a trace. Thermal burn of I degree is the easiest.
But even it can be prognostically dangerous if half or more of the surface of the body is damaged. A burn of the II degree is dangerous if 1/3 of the skin is damaged, and III - if it burns by more than a third. With severe and extensive damage, shock develops. The condition of the body as a whole, defined as a
burn disease , is also disturbed for a long time
. After shock, the following periods alternate: toxins entering the bloodstream, septic fever with complications and recovery. With a burn disease, an additional burden is placed on the central nervous system, internal organs. With damage to the trunk and head, pleurisy and meningitis can develop.
Thermal burn assistance
Of course, you must immediately eliminate the factor that caused the injury. It is necessary to remove clothes from the burnt area. But at the same time, parts of its adhering cannot be torn off; they must be carefully cut off.
It is also forbidden to use creams, oils, ointments, urine, to pierce the resulting bubbles. Next, cool the damaged surface. For burns of the I-II degree, this is done with running water, pouring wounds on it for a quarter of an hour, then a wet clean dressing is applied. With a defeat of the III-IV degree, the dressing is used immediately. The victim needs to ensure peace and wait for the arrival of the ambulance.
Thermal burn in the eye area
It occurs as a result of exposure to the shell of the eyes of high temperature. Most often, thermal eye burns are caused by steam, molten metal, flame, boiling water or fat. It is rarely isolated. Basically, such damage is combined with widespread burns to the face or other parts of the body. The clinical manifestation depends on the degree of damage.
Thermal burn in the eye area: first aid
It begins with the immediate elimination by a stream of water, tweezers or a cotton swab of the remnants of the substance that caused the injury. If necessary, a solution of dicaine is introduced into the conjunctival sac and general anesthesia is performed. If the cornea is damaged, a solution of chloramphenicol is instilled into the eyes for disinfection and a synthomycin emulsion or tetracycline ointment is placed . Mandatoryly administered toxoid and tetanus toxoid.